The morning was calm, the air cool, and her mother's embrace comforting. Dahlia was used to that feeling, but this time it felt different.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around.
They weren't in their room, but outside. In a place that felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
She tried to move her body, but it felt weak.
Her left forehead felt slightly hot but also a little cold.
Her left hand was wrapped in a dull-looking bandage, with red marks in several places.
In a dazed and weak state, Dahlia heard voices around her. Some sounded anxious, others angry, and still others distressed.
New things were happening around her, and she had only one question... 'What happened?'
"Kyle, Dahlia is awake."
"Let's speed up. We'll be able to stop when we get there."
Celia nodded in response. She then kissed Dahlia's forehead before following Kyle.
A few moments later, they arrived at the inn.
The door was locked tightly, as were the windows. Not only were they closed, but the inside was also barred.
Kyle approached the door and knocked loudly.
"Open the door!"
There was no response.
Kyle knocked harder. "Open it, or we'll scream!"
As soon as Kyle said that, the sound of the door moving was heard, but it was still locked. However, his voice was finally answered, but not in a friendly manner.
"Do you want to die?! This place is blocked off. You should go somewhere else!"
"Hey, there's a little kid hurt here. Open the door quickly!"
"Then go to the hospital. Don't come here."
Hearing the answer from behind the door, Kyle became irritated and looked at Celia.
"Honey, you'll get off first, okay?" Celia said as she gently lowered Dahlia.
Kyle knocked gently and spoke more calmly. "Please open the door. My daughter needs a safe place to rest, and we're at our limit."
"No way. We're too—Ugh!!!"
Before the voice from behind the door could finish, the door swung open, slamming into the person behind it, causing them to fall hard.
The door, which had been locked several times, padlocked, and chained, was now broken, shocking the people inside.
They watched Kyle and Celia lower the door, unable to believe that such a door had been broken into by such a gentle-looking couple.
Kyle looked at the man whose face was injured from being hit by the door. "I told you, we're at our limit... of patience."
"I don't remember such a lowly human being booking a room at this inn," Celia said, looking at the apartment staff.
"Celia, take Dahlia to her room. I'll take care of things here."
Celia glanced at the people staring at them and spoke quietly to Kyle. "We're making a bad first impression. I'll be right back."
Kyle nodded.
As Celia left and was about to use the elevator, she remembered that all the machines had broken down, so they had no choice but to use the stairs.
After arriving in the room, Dahlia and Celia sat on the bed.
Dahlia didn't say anything, but as her mother, Celia could see that Dahlia wanted to know what had happened.
She gently took her daughter's hand and touched Dahlia's cheek.
"Last night was just a natural disaster. It's okay, everything will be fine... Mama and Papa are with you."
Dahlia studied her mother's face; there was worry, sadness, and something hidden. Even so, she could still see the affection in her mother's beautiful face.
Dahlia took her mother's hand, which was touching her cheek, with both of her hands.
She nodded and smiled.
The smile on her mother's face grew even more pronounced.
She hugged and stroked her.
After a moment, her mother released her and stood up.
"Here's some medicine for you. It might be a bit much, but Mama's great daughter can do it, right? Mama's going to go see Papa, you rest here for now."
After saying that, Dahlia was left alone in the room.
She didn't move for a while, contemplating what she had seen since she regained consciousness.
She then looked at the shopping bag her mother had left behind.
There were more things there, but she knew which ones she had to take.
Dahlia pulled out one of the bags containing several boxes of medicine and took the medicine out of its container.
As a young child, Dahlia still had difficulty swallowing bitter pills, so her mother had prepared the medicine in syrup form to make it easier for her.
After Dahlia had drunk all her medicine, Dahlia put it back together and sat quietly for a few moments.
Dahlia looked at the bandage on her arm and began to carefully unwrap it.
A dark and long wound, visible on the side. Noticing the dark area, he knew the wound was quite serious.
Her left forehead ached, and as she walked, she felt a slight pain in her left leg.
Dahlia wondered what had happened to her that had caused her to become like this.
Dahlia looked out the window... The city was quiet, devoid of the people or the hustle and bustle of the previous days.
Seeing this, she lowered her head slightly and began to rest.
*****
A few days passed, Dahlia spent her days in her apartment, occasionally going out to help her parents.
Dahlia had heard that it was dangerous outside, and all the machinery seemed broken, so rarely did anyone go out... This prevented them from getting food deliveries.
Dahlia looked around the city. She felt it was becoming more and more dilapidated and less pleasant.
"Papa, where are we going?"
"We're going home, Dahlia. We just need to find help and get communication." Kyle looked resignedly at their former lodgings. "We can't just wait."
Without a system or intermediary, it was only a matter of time before they ran out of food and other necessities.
They could scrounge from abandoned houses or shops, but eventually, they would all run out.
Ultimately... they had no choice but to leave.
Joining a group of like-minded people, they set off without a clear destination... hoping their efforts would bear fruit.
On their seemingly endless journey, they had stopped and rested several times, only to gather resources and move on.
During the day, loud sounds like roars and clashing metal could be heard, most notably the sounds of gunfire and explosions.
Inside the building, Dahlia sat quietly with the rest of their group.
She stared at the blank walls, wondering and contemplating what was happening beyond.
After nearly a week, she had a good idea that something dangerous was out there.
Some of those strong enough had to leave to confront the creatures. Many returned injured, meaning that, whether they wanted to or not, others would have to take their place.